US sends third aircraft carrier to Middle East

The US has announced the deployment of a third aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, as President Donald Trump contemplates escalating military action against Iran. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered carrier, is currently en route to Central Command's area of operations in the region, accompanied by its carrier strike group and an amphibious group carrying over 2,000 marines.

This deployment, expected to arrive by the end of November, follows the arrival of the USS George HW Bush and USS George Washington aircraft carriers in the region. The move comes amid reports of deteriorating conditions aboard the USS Lincoln, which has been in the region since August after replacing the USS Abraham Lincoln. The USS Lincoln's deployment has seen eight servicemembers attempt to take their own lives during the mission.

Despite indirect talks between the US and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump has continued to threaten further military action, with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian vowing that Tehran will not shy away from negotiations and may not exist if it fails to reach a "very fair deal".

Brief written by urgent.news from The National UAE's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.